Bilateral relations have been built on a solid moral foundation since the time when Bulgaria unwaveringly supported the South African people in their fight against apartheid, Presidents Rumen Radev and Cyril Ramaphosa stressed
Bulgaria has the ambition to restore and intensify its cooperation with the Republic of South Africa (RSA), which is a key player in international relations and on the African continent. That is why, both top-level dialogue and the strengthening of communication between the various executive institutions are contributing. This is what Bulgarian President Rumen Radev said, who today met with RSA President, Cyril Ramaphosa, at the official residence of the South African head of state in Pretoria. Radev is visiting the country on 12 and 13 May.
Opportunities to expand bilateral partnership in economy, trade, transport, tourism, education and science were the focus of the meeting between the two presidents, which also saw a remarkable growth of around 200% in economic exchange in 2022. RSA is among Africa's most economically developed countries, has a strategic partnership agreement with the EU, and is among the world's top 20 most developed economies. President Radev highlighted the opportunity for Bulgaria to become a logistics hub for RSA's exports to the EU, as well as this country's interest in developing a similar partnership with RSA in the sub-Saharan region.
Parallel to the meeting of the two presidents in Pretoria, a business forum was launched with the participation of 31 Bulgarian and 70 South African companies, where the prospective areas for investment in the two countries were presented and the business representatives held a number of bilateral meetings. Mechanical engineering and the production of automotive components, agriculture and food processing, high-tech technology, transport and tourism were identified as particularly promising areas of economic cooperation.
The promotion of tourism and contacts between businesses through visa liberalisation was also discussed. The two underlined the mutual interest of Bulgaria and the Republic of South Africa for partnership in energy and energy security and building a green economy.
Rumen Radev stressed that a great number of students from various African countries, who received their higher education in Bulgaria in the recent past, represent today a great common capital for the development of relations between this country and its partners in Africa. Bulgaria's proposal to adopt the programme for cooperation in higher education and exchange of students between Bulgaria and the Republic of South Africa was also put to debate.
Both Rumen Radev and Cyril Ramaphosa stressed that the relations between Bulgaria and RSA have a historical dimension from the time when Bulgaria unwaveringly supported the South African people in their fight against apartheid. President Ramaphosa expressed his gratitude to Bulgaria and the Bulgarian people for their support in the historic struggle of the South African people for the respect of human rights and the abolition of the regime of social and racial discrimination. President Radev noted that the policy of the Bulgarian state was also the result of the profound sense of justice of the Bulgarian people and thanked for the favourable conditions created by the RSA for the Bulgarian community in the country, which is well integrated into society.
Later today at Freedom Park, the President will lay a wreath in tribute to those who perished in the struggle for freedom in RSA and will participate in the opening of an exhibition dedicated to Bulgaria's support in the struggle of the South African people against apartheid.